Attic corner ventilation system

ABSTRACT

A ventilation system useful for venting an attic space of an eaveless roof as well as any other types of roofs includes at least one sloping wall and at least one end wall which is transverse to the sloping wall. An attic corner ventilation apparatus is at least partially exposed exteriorly from at least one of the sloping wall and the end wall. The ventilation system includes a plurality of roof vents which work in conjunction with the attic corner ventilation apparatus to properly ventilate the attic space. The attic corner ventilation apparatus generally include a conduit having at least one open end, an end cap at least partially received within the open end, and a plurality of vents supported on the surface area of the conduit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/659,532, filed Mar. 8, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to ventilation of building structures, and more particularly to an attic corner ventilation system.

Ventilation of an attic in a home or other building structure is typically accomplished by use of roof vents, gable vents, soffet vents, ridge vents or the like. These types of ventilation systems are often used in combination with one another to draw air into the attic and then exhaust the air through the ridge vents or the roof vents. By venting air through the attic, heat is prevented from building up. As a result, shingle life is increased and air conditioning usage is decreased during the summer. Additionally, proper ventilation aids in the prevention of ice dams that may cause roof damage during the winter.

Many homes are built with a roof that includes an eave or an overhang. Homes of this type typically utilize soffet vents to effectively circulate air throughout the attic space. Disadvantageously, however, soffet vents are not adapted for use in homes without a roof eave or overhang. As a result, proper ventilation of the attic space may be seriously undermined.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an attic ventilation system for an eaveless roof which is readily installed and that provides proper ventilation of the entire attic space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary ventilation system useful for venting an attic space of an eaveless roof as well as any other types of roofs includes at least one sloping wall and at least one end wall which is transverse to the sloping wall. An attic corner ventilation apparatus is at least partially exposed exteriorly from at least one of the sloping wall and the end wall. In one example, the ventilation system includes a plurality of roof vents which work in conjunction with the attic corner ventilation apparatus to properly ventilate the attic space. One example ventilation system includes a plurality of attic corner ventilation apparatus disposed within the attic space.

In one example, an attic corner ventilation apparatus includes a conduit having at least one open end, an end cover at least partially received within the open end of the conduit, and a plurality of vents supported on the surface area of the conduit. One example end cover includes a cylindrical section and a cap section. The cylindrical section defines an open end and includes a screen positioned around the open end. The cap section is preferably sloped and opens downwardly to at least partially house the cylindrical section of the end cover.

The ventilation apparatus of the present invention adequately provides for the ventilation of the entire attic space of an eaveless roof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an attic space implementing an attic corner ventilation system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial view of an attic corner ventilation apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary view of an attic corner incorporating the attic corner ventilation apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a top view of a roof structure implementing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary view of an attic corner incorporating the second embodiment of the attic corner ventilation system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, a ventilation system 10 is illustrated for providing proper ventilation of an attic space 12. A roof 14 includes a first sloping wall 16 and a second sloping wall 18 which are sloped at an identical pitch and terminate at building walls 20 and 22, respectively. The roof 14 also includes a first and second end wall 21 and 23, respectively, to define a gable roof with a triangular shaped roof structure. The first and second sloping walls 16 and 18, the end walls 21 and 23, and a ceiling 24 define the attic space 12.

Attic corner ventilation apparatuses 26 are supported within the attic space 12 and preferably extend between the first end wall 21 and the second end wall 23. In this embodiment, two attic corner ventilation apparatuses 26 are included within the attic space 12. It should be understood that certain requirements, such as dimension, quantity, and location, of the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 26 will vary depending upon the structure of the roof 14. A plurality of roof vents 28 are mounted on the first sloping wall 16 and the second sloping wall 18 of the roof 14. The roof vents 28 are employed in combination with the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 26 to properly ventilate the attic space 12. In addition, the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 26 may be adapted to communicate with gable vents (not shown) to properly ventilate the attic space 12.

Referring to FIG. 2, a portion of an attic corner ventilation apparatus 26 is illustrated. A conduit 30 defines an end 32. Preferably, the conduit 30 is cylindrical and is made of a plastic material such as PVC. It should be understood that the conduit 30 may take the form of other shapes and be made of other materials. The end 32 of the conduit 30 receives an end cover 34. The end cover 34 is preferably a dryer wall vent without the hinged flap cover. The end cover 34 is comprised of a cylindrical section 36 and a cap section 38. The cylindrical section 36 defines an open end 40 opposite the end received by end 32 of the conduit 30. A screen 39 is positioned around the open end 40 of the cylindrical section 36 to keep animals out and to prevent clogging of the attic corner ventilation apparatus 26 by leaves or the like. The cap section 38 is sloped and opens downwardly to at least partially house the open end 40. A plurality of vents 41 are supported on the surface area of the conduit 30. Preferably, the plurality of vents 41 are louvered vents.

Referring to FIG. 3, ventilation of an attic corner 29 of the attic space 12 is illustrated. Air 42 enters the ventilation system 10 through the open end 40 of the end cover 34 of the attic corner ventilation apparatus 26. The end cover 34 is at least partially exposed exteriorly from the end wall 21. It should be understood that the same configuration would be achieved at the end wall 23 such that a second end cover (not shown) of the attic corner ventilation apparatus 26 is at least partially exposed exteriorly from the end wall 23. After entering the end cover 34, the air 42 is communicated to the conduit 30 where it is exhausted through the plurality of vents 41. Once the air 42 exits the plurality of vents 41, the air enters the attic space 12 where it is further exhausted outdoors through the plurality of roof vents 28. The present invention therefore provides ventilation of the entire attic space 12 including areas of the attic space 12 that are traditionally difficult to ventilate such as the attic corner 29.

An alternate embodiment of the ventilation system 10 is shown in FIG. 4. Here, a roof 44 is configured in a different manner than the roof 14 shown in FIG. 1. For example, the configuration of the roof 44 is that of a hip roof. In this alternative embodiment, a first and a second sloping wall 46 and 48, and sloping end walls 50 and 52 are each brought together to define the roof 44. The first and the second sloping walls 46 and 48, the sloping end walls 50 and 52 and a ceiling 54 define an attic space 56.

Preferably, four attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43, 45, 47 and 49 are included within the attic space 56 in this embodiment such that one attic corner ventilation apparatus 43, 45, 47 and 49, respectively, is mounted parallel to each wall 46, 48, 50 and 52, respectively. The attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43, 45, 47, and 49 are interconnected to provide a ventilation system 51. The attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43, 45, 47 and 49 are comprised of a conduit 30 which is identical to the conduit 30 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. A plurality of roof vents 28 are mounted on the first sloping wall 46 and the second sloping wall 48 of the roof 44 and are employed in combination with the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43, 45, 47, and 49 to provide proper ventilation of the attic space 56.

Referring to FIG. 5, and with continuing reference to FIG. 4, ventilation of an attic corner 58 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this embodiment, an intake vent 60 is implemented at the interconnection of the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43 and 47, respectively. Preferably, the intake vent 60 is incorporated at each interconnection of the ventilation system 51. The intake vent 60 is at least partially exposed exteriorly from the first sloping wall 46. It should be understood that the intake vent 60 could be configured within the ventilation system 51 such that it is exposed exteriorly from the end wall 50. An elbow 62 is attached between the intake vent 60 and the interconnection of the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43 and 45.

Air 42 enters the ventilation system 51 through the intake vent 60. The air 42 is then communicated through the elbow 62 to the conduit 30 of the attic corner ventilation apparatuses 43 and 47 where it is exhausted through the plurality of vents 41. Upon entering the attic space 56, the air 42 is further exhausted through the plurality of roof vents 28 to effectively ventilate the attic space 56.

That the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense is thus made apparent. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modification would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claim should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention. 

1. A ventilation system, comprising: a conduit disposed within a defined interior space; and a plurality of vents supported on the conduit, wherein at least a portion of the conduit communicates exterior air into the defined interior space.
 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said defined interior space comprises a first sloping wall and a second sloping wall, wherein said conduit extends between said first sloping wall and said second sloping wall.
 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said defined interior space comprises a first end wall and a second end wall, wherein said conduit extends between said first end wall and said second end wall.
 4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein a plurality of conduits are disposed within said defined interior space.
 5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said conduit further comprises an end cover, said end cover being at least partially exposed exteriorly from the defined interior space.
 6. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of roof vents that communicate with said conduit to exhaust air exteriorly from said defined interior space.
 7. An attic ventilation apparatus, comprising: a conduit having at least one open end; an end cover at least partially received within said open end of said conduit; and a plurality of vents supported on the surface area of said conduit.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said conduit comprises PVC.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said conduit is cylindrical and hollow.
 10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said end cover comprises a cylindrical section and a cap section.
 11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said cylindrical section defines an open end opposite said open end of said conduit, wherein a screen is positioned around said open end of said cylindrical section.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein said cap section is at least partially sloped and opens downwardly to at least partially house said open end of said cylindrical section.
 13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein said plurality of vents comprise louvered vents.
 14. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, further comprising a plurality of roof vents that communicate with said conduit to exhaust air from a defined interior space of an attic.
 15. A method of venting an attic space, comprising the steps of: (a) supporting a conduit having a plurality of vents supported on a surface area of the conduit near at least one corner of the attic space; (b) communicating at least a portion of the conduit exteriorly from the attic space; and (c) communicating exterior air through the conduit and into the interior of the attic space.
 16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said step (a) comprises: extending the conduit between a first end wall and a second end wall of the attic space.
 17. The method as recited in claim 15, further comprising the step of: exhausting the air exteriorly from the attic space through a plurality of roof vents. 